Rental cars are an expensive expenditure. Here are five tips that you can leverage to ensure that you score the cheapest rental car possible.
Tip #1: Buy Ahead; Use a Major Booking Site
Just as you often book your flight and your room ahead of time, do the same with your rental car. If possible, package the rental car in with the flight, the room, or both. Many bundled discounts are available that essentially offer you a free rental car as part of the package. If you cannot find a deal here, look to the rental car company’s website itself. You can at least get some savings going directly through their website ahead of time. Take Tip #2 into consideration even when using a booking agency or company’s website.
Tip #2: Take the Shuttle into Town
Sure, it can be a hassle but if getting the least expensive rental car deal is important to you, then take the airport shuttle into down. Those on-site car rental agencies have to pay a premium to the airport, a premium that they pass on to the customer. You might be amazed that you can get a much more competitive deal from the same company in town then they would offer you at the airport.
Tip #3: Discount Codes and Coupons
Have you ever noticed that when you rent a car they will often ask you if you have a discount code or coupon to apply to the purchase? You do not need to be a preferred customer to have these codes. Thanks to the Internet, these discount codes are widely available via websites that specialize in them. Monitor these deals even after you book your rental car because many companies will allow you to apply them on top of the booking savings.
Tip #4: Avoid Rental Car Insurance
Rental car companies try to sell rental car insurance to all of their customers. When you consider that the majority of those customers do not require the insurance, this is tantamount to a racket. If you have personal automobile insurance, chances are that your personal policy covers all rental cars. Verify this and then decline any additional coverage.
Tip #5: Bring a Digital Camera
Think ahead and have your digital camera handy. They are so convenient today that there is no excuse not to have one available. Take five minutes to walk around the car with the rental company rep. Photograph the car at all the angles. Note all the damage and have the rep sign off on it. This may seem like a waste of time but you would be amazed how often rental car companies try to apply surcharges for minor dings and nicks.
With these tips, a little patience, and a little due diligence, you should have no difficulty finding the best car rental deal possible. Good luck.
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